When I told my neighbour I was getting rid of my classic stone fireplace, and putting in an electric one, she looked at me like I’d suggested cooking Christmas dinner in the toaster. “But it’s not real, is it?” she said, stirring her tea like it had offended her.
No, it’s not “real” in the way a wood-burning stove is. But neither is a microwave, and that doesn’t stop me using it every night.
More and more people across the UK are making the same decision. Electric fireplaces are turning up in new-builds, flats, rentals, terraces and even in homes where they still have a chimney—but can’t be bothered with the faff of sweeping it.
So what’s changed?
No smoke. No mess. No fuss.
That’s it, really. People are tired.
Tired of smoke alarms going off for no reason. Tired of waiting for gas engineers to show up and tell them the pilot light’s gone again. Tired of stacking logs in the hallway like it’s 1842.
Electric fires just work. You plug them in. You press a button. Heat comes out.
You don’t need to book anyone to install a flue. You don’t need to check if your area has wood-burning restrictions. You don’t need to learn how to build a fire that doesn’t go out the second you leave the room.
If you’ve got a socket, you’ve got a fireplace.
They don’t pretend to be something they’re not
This is where things get interesting. For years, electric fires tried to look like something else. Fake flames. Logs that glowed from the inside. Screens that shimmered like a glitchy lava lamp.
But the new generation of electric fireplaces has grown up a bit. Yes, some still mimic fire. But others lean into what they are. Sleek. Quiet. Warm.
You’ll find wall-mounted fires that look like part of your TV set-up. Inset models that slide into the wall without sticking out like a bad idea. Freestanding units that look like they belong in a design showroom rather than your nan’s front room.
People like that. They don’t want Victorian drama. They want heat and style, without the side effects.
They don’t waste heat
With a wood burner, most of the warmth disappears up the flue. Gas fires lose a fair bit too, unless you spend more on a sealed system.
Electric stoves and fires don’t lose anything. All the warmth stays in the room. That’s not marketing—just physics.
And they’re fast. You don’t wait twenty minutes for the room to heat up. You press a button and it’s warm before the kettle’s boiled.
Some people still think electric fires are weak. That they just glow and hum in the corner like a shy radiator. Not true. Many of them produce the same heat output as a small fan heater, but without the noise.
They’re perfect for small spaces
If you live in a flat, or you’ve got one of those new houses where the living room is the size of a large wardrobe, a traditional fireplace takes up too much space.
Electric fires can be wall-mounted. That means no hearth. No raised edge to trip over. No bulky surround to make your room feel like a doll’s house.
You can even get corner models if your layout is awkward. Or freestanding units you can move around if you change your mind every five minutes.
You’re not tied to one look
Electric fireplaces come in every shape. Minimal. Retro. Weird.
And because they’re not built into brickwork or tied to a gas supply, you can change them.
If you want something modern now but might go traditional later, no problem. You can lift one out and put another in. Try doing that with a chimney breast.
It’s a bit like wallpaper. You can have one look for a few years, then swap it when you’re bored. Without the mess.
You don’t need to be rich to have one
Let’s be honest. Some fireplaces cost more than a family holiday. But electric ones don’t have to.
There are budget options that still look decent. And once it’s in, your running costs are up to you. Use it for heat. Use it for glow. Use it when guests come over so they think you’ve sorted your life out.
No fuel deliveries or gas bills. No yearly services. Just plug, press, and put your feet up.
No one’s going to judge you anymore
Once, electric fireplaces were seen as a bit sad. The choice of someone who gave up.
But now?
People are choosing them. On purpose. Because they work. Because they fit modern life. Because they don’t take up half the room or cover your walls in soot.
It’s not about pretending to live in a country house when you’re in a semi. It’s about warmth. Simplicity.
And not waiting three hours for a log fire to finally catch while your tea goes cold.
